The agreement marks a breakthrough in talks and intends to attract billions of dollars of Western investment to a region rich in cobalt, copper, lithium and other minerals.

The official signing of the peace agreement took place earlier Friday at the State Department and was witnessed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Senior Adviser for Africa Massad Boulos, whom Trump has largely credited with bringing about the deal.

The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda have signed a peace deal facilitated by the U.S. to help end the decades-long, deadly fighting in eastern Congo.